Floods

Welwyn Hatfield Borough is not prone to serious flooding. However, weather conditions are monitored constantly and in the event of flood risk conditions developing, an advance warning is given to the local authority and emergency services by the Environment Agency and/or the Met Office. Flood warnings and severe weather warnings can be viewed on the Environment Agency and Met Office websites (www.met-office.gov.uk/ www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/floodwarning)

Members of the public and businesses can also register with the Environment Agency to receive flood warnings via their Floodline Warnings Direct service. Further information about how to do this is available either by calling Floodline on 0845 988 1188 or from www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/826674 .

To find out if you could be living in a flood risk area, follow the link to the latest information on the Environment Agency’s website (www.environmentagency.gov.uk/subjects/flood). If you are shown to be at risk of flooding, make sure you are up to date with the latest flood advice available from either the Environment Agency’s Floodline service (phone number) or their website.

It is anticipated, due to the effects of climate change that the occurrence of flooding across the UK will remain on the increase, it is therefore vital that measures are taken to limit its impact.

Sources of Flooding

Whilst it is common knowledge that flooding occurs on river floodplains and on coastal areas near to the sea, flooding can occur elsewhere. Other sources of flooding include:

• Groundwater
• Artificial drainage systems
• Dam failure
• Sewerage systems
• Water mains
• Surface runoff after heavy rainfall

Following the Pitt Review into the 2007 summer flooding across England, it is recommended that the public increase their personal state of readiness and resilience to floods by following the Environment Agency’s practical advice. Some simple tips are:

• Have a ‘survival plan’ ready in case you need to act quickly. Think about what you would need to do if the water was about to get into your home.
• Make sure your insurance cover is adequate and up to date.
• If you have to leave your home, switch off the electricity, gas and water and take any essential items with you.
• Remember to alert neighbours, particularly the elderly and/or vulnerable who may be unaware of the situation.
• Store any important or valuable documents such as insurance details, passports either upstairs or in waterproof containers.
• If you are flooded, move upstairs and try to take any valuable items and any furniture you can with you. If it’s possible, lift the furniture left on the ground up on blocks.

Follow the link below to the advice section of the Environment Agency’s website for further details. (www.environmentagency.gov.uk).

The responsibility to protect your property is that of the occupant. Given the low risk of flooding across the borough, the Council does not have a policy of supplying sandbags. If at risk of being flooded, keeping some empty sandbags and sand or earth ready for use at the first sign of trouble would be sensible.

The Environment Agency has published three leaflets providing detailed information on how you can prepare for flooding and actions that you can take in the event of flooding and how to recover from it.  These are available at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/826674/882909/483622/?lang=_e